The Evolution of Object-Spirit Beliefs in Japanese Culture

Since ancient times, the Japanese people have held the belief that souls or spirits reside within all things, although this religious belief has diminished over time due to modern mass production. As a result, memorial services have been held in Japan for even bent, broken, or worn-out items such as needles, knives, combs, and more. One such memorial service, called "Hari Kuyo," is still practiced today at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, serving as an expression of sincere respect and gratitude for the hard work and service provided by these objects. This longstanding tradition highlights the importance of seeing all things as reliable and friendly partners. Therefore, the Japanese people dispose of needles respectfully instead of simply throwing them away. This perspective is reflected in Japanese animated cartoons such as Astroboy and Doraemon, where the Japanese people are depicted as unlikely to become adversarial with Artificial Intelligence (AI) but rather inclined towards collaboration, much like their past interactions with robots.

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